The next second, nine sharp Originium spikes surrounded everyone's necks.
"Please do not interfere with me."
A black crown appeared above Demon King Rabbit's head. Her lips parted slightly, but her tone remained cold:
"I am merely helping Lord God assess the value of this Worldline. You are all useless, so please wait patiently. I will soon pass judgment on whether you live or die."
Demon King Rabbit: Where Is Kal'tsit in This Worldline? Bring Her to Me
Demon King Rabbit was kind-hearted.
After all, with Theresia crowning her, Precise granting her authority, and Lord God blessing her—the triple buff stacked upon her—
No matter which Worldline she was in, she was the supreme, most benevolent, kindest, and strongest Demon King Rabbit. There was no second.
Demon King Rabbit possessed absolute control over Originium, and this Terra happened to have no shortage of Originium.
The entire Terra was filled with Originium dust, even in the air, while Originium particles flowed through people's veins.
So Demon King Rabbit could easily turn people into Originium.
Naturally... she could also easily extract Originium from their bodies.
With that little trick alone, if Demon King Rabbit wished it, everyone present would become like chunks of flesh blasted by a shotgun—riddled with holes, without a patch of intact skin left.
But Demon King Rabbit was kind-hearted.
She had merely put execution collars on everyone. Look at how gentle her methods were.
Yet none of those present saw it that way.
The nine Originium spikes encircling their necks gleamed coldly beneath the sunlight.
Even the slightest turn of the head would cause their skin and flesh to be cut open the instant they touched those Originium spikes.
No one doubted the spikes' sharpness. They understood perfectly that if Demon King Rabbit wished it, those spikes would pierce their necks and take their lives.
But even if they withstood it with their bodies, or somehow survived, it would be pointless.
Because as long as an ordinary person was wounded by Originium, they would contract Oripathy and become an Infected—an iron law of Terra.
In Terra's slave society, if slaves could at least be considered the private property of those in power—
Then sorry, but the Infected were beneath even slaves.
So for ordinary people, Demon King Rabbit's execution collars could not only kill them at any time; even if they were lucky enough to survive, they would still become Infected and have all their human rights stripped away.
Vicious...
What a vicious method...
But they only dared to curse her inwardly. None dared say it aloud.
It was not only because Demon King Rabbit's entrance had been far too ostentatious, or because her map-wide auto-targeting technique had been so terrifying.
More importantly, Demon King Rabbit stood behind a god and acted in the name of a Divine Messenger, carrying out Lord God's will.
And—
"The... continuation of civilization?"
And the black crown that had appeared above Demon King Rabbit's head when she used her power.
Supported by the Doctor's shoulder, Amiya of the normal Worldline struggled to her feet, her face full of shock.
Of course Amiya knew what that black crown above Demon King Rabbit's head was.
But that was wrong...
Wasn't there only one black crown?
One moment ago, Amiya had said Demon King Rabbit was not her. The next moment, Demon King Rabbit had produced the one and only black crown in the entire world.
Demon King Rabbit was the real one? Then who am I? Am I the fake?
Amiya was only thirteen or fourteen years old. Though she often acted like a little adult, there were many things she did not understand. At the very least, she did not understand what Demon King Rabbit meant by Worldline.
So Amiya could not help muttering softly.
But no matter how quiet she was, in that deathly silence, her voice was far too piercing.
Though Amiya immediately covered her little mouth after realizing it, unfortunately—
Demon King Rabbit still looked at her.
"Me in this Worldline?"
Demon King Rabbit had no intention of speaking in riddles. As she gently floated toward Amiya, she casually revealed this earth-shattering secret.
Demon King Rabbit and Amiya were the same person—those words alone were enough for many people to imagine all sorts of things.
"So weak."
Looking at Amiya, who could barely stand steadily only with the Doctor supporting her, Demon King Rabbit gave that evaluation.
Though Amiya of this Worldline had also been crowned by Theresia and inherited the Demon King's power—
Unfortunately, Amiya of this Worldline could not bear the weight of that crown at all.
As Demon King Rabbit floated before Amiya, the black crown above Amiya's head began to manifest of its own accord.
But the price was that Amiya's little face grew increasingly pale.
And through the black veil over Demon King Rabbit's face, as she watched the diamond-shaped pupils in Demon King Rabbit's eyes flicker with light, Amiya knew that Demon King Rabbit was reading her mind.
"I, I..." Amiya seemed to want to say something.
But Demon King Rabbit gave her no chance. "I do not wish to speak with you further. You have no value to me."
Demon King Rabbit was not going to put on some scene with Amiya about "then drown while clinging to that hollow ideal."
Because Demon King Rabbit sincerely thought so.
Demon King Rabbit had traveled through far too many Worldlines, but unfortunately, among all the endings of the Sarkaz roguelike, aside from Demon King Rabbit, who could single-handedly reign across eternity...
The Amiyas in every other ending could only sit at the children's table.
So when she saw that Amiya of this Worldline was also weak, pitiful, and helpless, Demon King Rabbit instinctively assigned her to the children's table as well.
"Where is Kal'tsit in this Worldline?" Demon King Rabbit turned her head and looked around. "Bring her to me."
In the space of those words, Demon King Rabbit had already read everyone's minds.
Amiya in this Worldline was too young to understand, while the Doctor had lost his memories.
So if she wanted to learn whether this Worldline was worth existing, the best method was to ask Kal'tsit of this Worldline directly.
After all, Kal'tsit had lived for ten thousand years and had seen much of the world.
Once Demon King Rabbit cast her aside, the black crown that had appeared above Amiya's head vanished again. Only then did Amiya's pale little face gradually regain some color.
But when she heard Demon King Rabbit's words afterward, Amiya immediately made a subtle expression.
That utterly unceremonious tone... anyone who did not know better would think Demon King Rabbit was Kal'tsit's mother.
What kind of upside-down world was this?
"Um..." Seeing that no one dared respond, Amiya of this Worldline forced herself to raise her little hand. "Doctor Kal'tsit... she isn't here..."
"She is not here?" Demon King Rabbit said, "Then have her come."
"Um..." Amiya looked troubled.
Hearing that, Demon King Rabbit turned her head, the diamond-shaped pupils in her eyes flickering.
After reading Amiya's mind, Demon King Rabbit understood instantly.
The communications had been cut off, so they could not contact Kal'tsit. And she was too far away; even if they contacted her, Kal'tsit could not make it here anytime soon.
"I see."
Demon King Rabbit let out a soft sigh.
Just as everyone thought that sigh meant Demon King Rabbit had given up on something, and all of them breathed a sigh of relief—
Demon King Rabbit gently lifted a fingertip again.
Everyone's hearts instantly rose to their throats.
The last time Demon King Rabbit had lifted a fingertip, she had created execution collars. So what about this time?
What Do You Have to Pay to Believe in My Lord God?
When Amiya of this Worldline said that Kal'tsit was not here—
Demon King Rabbit's best response should have been to turn around and leave, then search for Kal'tsit herself.
But Demon King Rabbit did not do that.
Because her Lord God still had His palm spread out there, as though He were waiting to receive her back.
Demon King Rabbit could hardly say, Lord God, please wait here for me while I go take a stroll, could she?
Impossible, impossible.
So—
A colossal Originium spike, as large as a meteor, condensed into existence in the sky.
It blocked out the sunlight and cast a shadow.
And at a slow pace, the massive Originium spike descended toward where everyone stood.
Everyone was dumbfounded, including Amiya, the Doctor, and the others.
That enormous Originium spike, merely by falling, could reduce a small country to wasteland in an instant.
And what about the shockwave after it struck? The fragments that would spray in every direction?
"My patience is limited."
Demon King Rabbit faced the crowd and spoke coldly.
No, in truth, Demon King Rabbit simply did not want her Lord God to wait too long.
"Now, I ask. You answer."
Demon King Rabbit floated before someone, the diamond-shaped pupils in her eyes beginning to flicker. "Please refrain from unnecessary nonsense. My patience is limited."
Kal'tsit saw it.
She saw the god holding the entire planet in His palm, the hand descending from the sky, and—
The colossal Originium spike now floating above Chernobog.
She had lived for ten thousand years. What great storms had she not seen? (X)
This, she truly had never seen before. (√)
Her mind had been shaken by the god's appearance, her worldview shattered.
She felt fear at the palm the god had sent down, having no idea how to respond.
But once she came back to her senses, Kal'tsit did not think of anything else before rushing toward Chernobog.
Because Amiya was there. The Doctor was there. So were Rhodes Island's elite operators, along with so many innocent civilians.
No matter the reason, Kal'tsit had to get there.
Closer. Almost there.
As she raced forward without regard for anything else, Kal'tsit abruptly halted when she was only a few hundred meters away from Chernobog.
Because she saw Royal Guard lying facedown in the grass.
Judging by the direction she lay in, Royal Guard seemed to have been blown directly here from Chernobog? Blown several hundred meters?
After hesitating for only a second, Kal'tsit stepped forward and gave her a brief examination.
Before you continue